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Kazakhstan has become the first Central Asian nation selected to participate in the OpenAI Edu Initiative, marking a significant step in the country’s education and digital transformation agenda.
The announcement, confirmed on January 24, 2026, places Kazakhstan alongside countries such as Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Estonia, and Jordan as early participants in OpenAI’s first global education-focused rollout.
The move underscores how governments are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to support teaching, research, and administrative efficiency rather than replace educators.
Under the OpenAI Edu Initiative, OpenAI will introduce ChatGPT Edu, a specialized version of its AI system designed for education into national education systems.
In Kazakhstan, the program is being implemented through agreements reached after a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed in November 2025 during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to the United States.
According to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the initiative aligns with national priorities on digital skills, innovation, and inclusive access to modern learning tools.
Kazakhstan’s inclusion in the OpenAI Edu Initiative represents a milestone for the country’s ambition to modernize education at all levels. By joining the initiative, Kazakhstan becomes the first country in Central Asia invited to participate in OpenAI’s education program, reflecting growing global confidence in the country’s digital readiness.
The initiative falls under OpenAI’s broader “OpenAI for Countries” program, which focuses on deploying AI tools in partnership with governments.
In Kazakhstan’s case, the main agreement was concluded between OpenAI, Freedom Holding, and regional partner Bilim Group. Together, the partners will oversee the deployment of ChatGPT Edu across the education system.
As part of the rollout, a total of 165,000 ChatGPT Edu licenses will be provided free of charge to educational institutions nationwide. About 100,000 licenses have been earmarked for preschool, secondary, technical, and vocational educators.
An additional 62,800 licenses will be allocated to administrators and higher education faculty, while 2,200 licenses will go to participants within the Astana Hub innovation ecosystem.
Officials say the scale of distribution highlights the government’s intention to embed the OpenAI Edu Initiative across the entire learning pipeline, from early education to advanced research.
Senior government officials have described the OpenAI Edu Initiative as a strategic investment in people rather than automation. Zhaslan Madiyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, said the program reflects Kazakhstan’s long-term vision for education and innovation.
“We view ChatGPT Edu as a practical tool to support educators and develop a strong research environment, fully aligned with national education standards, security requirements, and the principle of equal access,” — Zhaslan Madiyev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry.
The Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, echoed this view, emphasizing that artificial intelligence is meant to enhance human capacity, not replace it.
“Artificial intelligence is not a substitute for people; it is a tool that amplifies human thinking when used critically and responsibly. Kazakhstan is not preparing users of AI; we are preparing its creators,” — Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education.
Education authorities have stressed that the OpenAI Edu Initiative is designed to strengthen academic capacity and research output while preserving the central role of teachers. AI-assisted tools will handle non-core tasks, allowing educators to focus more on instruction, mentoring, and evaluation.
ChatGPT Edu, deployed under the OpenAI Edu Initiative, will assist teachers in creating lesson plans, assignments, and assessments, while also adapting content to different skill levels. The system will support instruction in Kazakh, Russian, and English, reflecting the multilingual nature of Kazakhstan’s education system.
Importantly, officials have clarified that grading and final assessments will remain the responsibility of educators. Minister of Education Zhuldyz Suleimenova highlighted this balance between innovation and professional judgment.
“Artificial intelligence should enhance the role of teachers by taking on non-core tasks,” — Zhuldyz Suleimenova, Minister of Education.
To ensure responsible use, the OpenAI Edu Initiative includes regular training sessions led by OpenAI specialists. These sessions will focus on effective classroom integration, ethical use, and alignment with national education standards. Educational institutions will also operate within secure, dedicated digital workspaces that comply fully with Kazakhstan’s data protection and information security laws.
Valeriya Te, Managing Director of Astana Hub, noted that the initiative will support existing national programs such as Tomorrow School and Tech Orda, further integrating AI into the country’s innovation ecosystem. Stakeholders across the education and technology sectors have largely welcomed the program, describing it as a timely boost to skills development and research competitiveness.
As the OpenAI Edu Initiative rolls out, Kazakhstan positions itself at the forefront of AI-enabled education in the region, signaling how emerging economies can adopt advanced technologies while maintaining strong human-centered education systems.
